Is there anyway a simpleton like me can tell if car that has a blown head gasket needs any other work apart from the gasket?
How will I tell if its warped? Is this really the kind of job I should get a pro to do or is it a DIY job?

Thanks in advance
Tim.

 

Not an easy job if you are not a mechanic/serious diy'er. If it has gone it will presssurise the system and usually blows the top hose/side of the rad, the header tank or just pushes water out of the overflow. Best get a garage to check it out, they can do a 'sniff' test.
Andy

 

you wont know if it needs the heads skimmed till they are off, they are simply measured for flatness of the mating face, so no way to tell till they are removed,

If the headgasket has gone, then there is more than likely an underlying cause, therefore you more than likely will have to fix something else as well, commom culprit would be split rad. end tanks - meaning u need a new rad as well, or burst header tank -meaning u need a new header tank, etc. etc. could be a split hose or anything that would lead to overheating enough to blow the gasket and / or warp the head.

I did mine myself , replaced with cometic MLS and my heads didnt need to be skimmed

PS. i am a web designer not a mechanic, can be done diy easiuly enough if u take ur time, be neat and organised and get a decent workshop manual

PPS. I am assuming ur are talking about an early classic impreza

 

Thanks for the replies. From investigation one of the water hoses had a leak, I think this has lead to the head gasket problem. The radiator was replaced a few months ago and looks ok.
Its an early 95 classic, I have got it as a project and this is the major thing that needs doing. Its pretty tuned, running 300 bhp so I might have a poke around, If it looks a bit risky sounds like I might be best getting it to a pro.
Once again thanks for the input, I am a mechanaphobe so its very helpful.

 

I would say have a go yourself.

You'll probably need to buy some tools unless you already have all the required bits (e.g. I'd need to buy an engine crane), but even if you buy the tools and the parts etc, it probably comes up to less than the cost at a garage, and more importantly, you'll learn loads doing it (although it will probably take 10 times as long the first time )

If it's a hobby car which you don't need back on the road right this moment, have a go yourself. If you fail you can always have it towed to a garage anyway

 

Head gaskets on early (fibre gaskets) is very common, Ive been working on Impreza's for the past 10 years, so have done loads. They only really need skimming if the engine has got that hot the fire rings melt into the heads, i've only had that a couple of times though. You will find that it's the gaskets that start to leak and cause the other problems, this is due to excessive pressure in the water system, and it's either rad, header tank or top hose that pops first.